Which Newcastle homes need what
Find out if you're bush fire prone
Bush fire prone land maps for Newcastle are drawn up by City of Newcastle and the other Hunter councils and certified by the NSW RFS Commissioner. The quickest checks are the RFS online tool, the council map or your property's Section 10.7 planning certificate.
What the RFS asks for
The RFS's building guidance says gutter and valley leaf guards on bush fire prone land should be non-combustible and installed to AS 3959, the bushfire building standard. Embers, which it blames for 85% of house losses, can arrive more than 100 m ahead of the flames. Upgrading an existing home isn't mandatory, but the RFS strongly recommends it.
Salt on the coast
Near Merewether, Bar Beach, Nobbys and Stockton, the mesh sits in salt air every day. BlueScope says stainless steel, copper and lead mustn't be used with Colorbond or Zincalume gutters, so a stainless guard that seems the obvious coastal choice can damage the gutter underneath.
Leaves before the wet season
June, May and March are Newcastle's wettest months. Gutters packed with autumn leaves are the ones that overflow when the first heavy rain arrives, guards or not.
Choosing the mesh
On bush fire prone land: metal mesh only, fitted along the gutters and valleys and over gaps under the first row of tiles or sheets. The RFS upgrade guide wants gaps over 3 mm covered with mesh no coarser than 2 mm, in corrosion-resistant steel, bronze or aluminium. See ember guards.
On Colorbond or Zincalume gutters: aluminium mesh avoids the metal clash BlueScope warns about. Get the material written on the quote.
Under trees: a mesh guard cuts cleaning, but leaves still sit on top and need clearing. Our leaf guard mesh page covers the types.
Questions for a Newcastle installer
- Is my property mapped as bush fire prone, and is this guard suitable for it?
- What metal is the mesh, and is it safe on my gutters in salt air?
- Will you seal the gaps under the tiles or sheets as well as covering the gutters?
- Will you clean the gutters and check for rust before fitting?
- Does your NSW licence cover roof plumbing work?
What we'd do
On bush fire prone land, we'd fit non-combustible aluminium mesh to AS 3959 and still clear the guards before each fire season. On the coast with no fire risk, we'd only fit guards if trees fill the gutters, and we'd steer clear of stainless on steel gutters. The national gutter guards page compares types, and the Newcastle page covers the wider local picture.
Want a roofer to take a look?
Tell us the job and your postcode. We match it with a Find My Roofer certified roofer who specialises in that kind of work, and they call you to quote. Your number goes to them alone.